Photo: Destin Vacation Boat Rentals · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Destin is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Destin beats Florida on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Destin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Destin
Destin is an active town
Only 20.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.3% across Florida. Habits ↓
Fewer Destin adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Florida. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Destin
Destin runs below Florida on diabetes (10.3% vs 13.5%), stroke (3% vs 3.8%) and heart disease (6.2% vs 7.5%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Florida figure falls outside Destin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Destin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Destin is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, #106 of 636 in Florida. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 86% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 69%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Destin’s median household income is $89,011; among the 10,067 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$111K), it’s healthier than 88%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Florida
Share of adults, with the Florida figure marked.
3.3 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.4% of Destin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15% across Florida.
Out of every 100 Destin adults…
Destin runs below FL on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Destin
No hospital or community health center in Destin itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Destin; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Destin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Florida.
How Destin adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Destin does better than Florida.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Destin and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destin | A− | 29.3% | 10.3% | 11.4% | CDC place |
| Miramar Beach | A− | 27% | 12.9% | 9.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Destin adults live with a disability (Florida 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Destin
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Destin is better than Florida on 17 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Florida figure falls inside Destin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Destin | FL | U.S. | vs FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.3%13.3–17.5 | 20.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%11–14 | 14.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14.1–17.8 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.3%24.2–34.8 | 31.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.3%9–11.7 | 13.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.8%29.3–36.5 | 36.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%32.3–39.7 | 39% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.2%24.3–30.2 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.4–10.6 | 9.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9.1–10.9 | 9.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.3%5.5–7.1 | 7.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.3 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8%6.5–9.7 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.4%9.7–13.2 | 12.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.2%17.1–23.7 | 26.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.5–20.3 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.4%29.4–39.6 | 37.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%8.3–11.2 | 15.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.3%74.1–80.3 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65%61.8–68.1 | 57.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.1%86.6–89.5 | 87% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.9%74–79.6 | 78.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.5%67.2–75.5 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74%66.6–80.4 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19%16.3–22 | 17.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.5%16.8–22.3 | 24.7% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.4%9.3–11.7 | 16.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.5%8.4–10.7 | 13.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.5–7 | 8.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 9.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.4%8.4–10.5 | 15% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.4%24–31 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.6%10–13.2 | 15.1% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12%10.5–13.5 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6–7.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.6–4.4 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.5%5.7–7.3 | 8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.7–3.3 | 4.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Florida figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Destin
Is Destin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Destin is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #106 of 636 in Florida. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 88%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Destin?
CDC estimates 29.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.2% and 34.8%, against 31.9% across Florida and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Destin?
HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville, 7.4 miles in a straight line from Destin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Destin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.3–11.2%), against 15.9% across Florida.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Destin more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Destin.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Florida figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.